Portable silo assembly

ABSTRACT

A portable silo assembly includes two or more telescopic silos. Each of the telescopic silos are multi-stage structures that are vertically movable from a collapsed transport position to a telescopically expanded operative position. A rigid underlying base structure is provided upon which the two or more telescopic silos are mounted. A jacking assembly is provided for jacking the two or more telescopic silos from the collapsed transport position to the expanded operative position. A rigidifying truss system provided rigidity between the two or more telescopic silos during transport and as the two or more telescopic silos are jacked from the collapsed transport position to the expanded operative position.

FIELD

There is described a portable silo assembly developed for use in the oil and gas industry to store sand required for an operation known as “fracing”. It will be appreciated that the portable silo assembly can be used in any application where temporary use of a silo is required.

BACKGROUND

In the oil and gas industry, a formation fracturing operation. known as “fracing” is performed that requires large quantities of sand. In preparation for “fracing” a portable silo needed to store the large quantities of sand is transported to a remote well site. The portable silos currently in use are large cylinders which are transported on a truck in a substantially horizontal orientation due to highway height restrictions and are then placed in a vertical orientation at the well site. There will hereinafter be described a portable silo assembly.

SUMMARY

There is provided a portable silo assembly which includes two or more telescopic silos. Each of the telescopic silos are multi-stage structures that are vertically movable from a collapsed transport position to a telescopically expanded operative position. A rigid underlying base structure is provided upon which the two or more telescopic silos are mounted. A jacking assembly is provided for jacking the two or more telescopic silos from the collapsed transport position to the expanded operative position. A rigidifying truss system provided rigidity between the two or more telescopic silos during transport and as the two or more telescopic silos are jacked from the collapsed transport position to the expanded operative position.

The above described portable silo assembly is an alternative to portable silos currently in use. The portable silo assembly that will hereinafter be described uses four telescopic silos. This configuration provides a capacity in excess of any portable silo that is currently in use.

There are a number of optional features that have been added to the portable silo assembly, as will hereinafter be further described. A skid is used as the underlying base structure to facilitate winching the underlying base structure on and off transport trailers. A plurality of multi-stage hydraulic cylinders are used for the jacking assembly. Stabilizer columns are provided which telescopically extend to provide resistance against deflection when raising and lowering the portable silo assembly. Stabilizer legs are provided to stabilize the two or more telescopic silos in the expanded operative position and provide a back up to the multi-stage hydraulic cylinders in the event of hydraulic failure. The stabilizer legs are pivotally mounted at an upper end of the two or more telescopic silos. The stabilizer legs slide in tracks positioned on the underlying base structure from a transport position to a support position as the two or more telescopic silos are moved by the jacking assembly from the collapsed transport position to the expanded operative position. Outriggers are provided that are capable of being extended outwardly from the underlying base structure. Guy wires may be secured from the top of the two or more telescopic silos to remote ends of the outriggers for further stability. Each of the two or more telescopic silos has a coned bottom with an underlying conveyor which retracts when the two or more telescopic silos are in the collapsed transport position and extends when the two or more telescopic silos are in the expanded operative position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable silo in an expanded operative position.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the portable silo illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the portable silo illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portable silo illustrated in FIG. 1 in a collapsed transport position.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the portable silo in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the portable silo in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A portable silo assembly will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 6.

LEGEND OF COMPONENTS

100 Safety Rail around perimeter of structure, (Hinged attachment allowing railings to be “folded” down for transport.

101 (6) Retractable stabilizers to resist any deflection while raising and lowering the silo.

102 Collapsing caged ladder

103 Guyed wires to be connected to lower outriggers upon operational height

101 Multi-stage Hydraulic Cylinders to support structure

105 Lower Outriggers complete with connection to support guy wires

106 Hydraulic Power pack

107 External Conveyor

108 internal Conveyor, on a track to slide in for transport and out for operation

109 Silo Support legs

110 Collapsing Silo assembly (5 Aluminum Cylinders complete with 1 coned cylinder)

111 Silo base with skid plate

112 Stabilizer legs that will swing down on a track to be locked in place with assembly is at operational height.

113 Plates with “pin” connection to allow stabilizer arms to swing freely down as the unit is erected.

114 Truss system along entire unit and between each cylinder to ensure structure is rigid as well as ensure no deflection while being loaded or unloaded. Truss system will be tied into base under transport at 5 points (2 at each end and 3 in-between silos)

115 Hatch to allow for material to enter the silos

Structure and Relationship of Parts:

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the portable silo assembly includes two or more telescopic silos 110. It is to be noted that four telescopic silos 110 have been illustrated to provide the desired capacity. Each of the telescopic silos 110 are multi-stage structures that are vertically movable from a collapsed transport position (as illustrated in FIG. 4 through FIG. 6) to a telescopically expanded operative position (as illustrated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 3). The multi-stages of each of telescopic silos 110 include five aluminium cylinders and one coned bottom. Each of telescopic silos 110 is supported by silo support legs 109. This raises telescopic silos 110 up to provide access for unloading through the coned bottom. A rigid underlying base structure 111 is provided upon which telescopic silos 110 are mounted. A skid is used as underlying base structure 111 to facilitate winching the underlying base structure on and off transport trailers. A jacking assembly is provided for jacking telescopic silos 110 from the collapsed transport position (as illustrated in FIG. 4 through FIG. 6) to the expanded operative position (as illustrated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 3). A plurality of multi-stage hydraulic cylinders 104 are used for the jacking assembly. Hydraulic cylinders 104 receive hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic power pack 106. A rigidifying truss system 114 provides rigidity between telescopic silos 110 during transport and as telescopic silos 110 are jacked from the collapsed transport position (as illustrated in FIG. 4 through FIG. 6) to the expanded operative position (as illustrated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 3). Truss system 114 runs along the entire length of the portable silo assembly and between telescopic silo 110 to ensure the structure is rigid as well as to ensure no deflection while being loaded or unloaded.

There are a number of optional features that have been added to the portable silo assembly. Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 3, a safety rail 100 is provided around a top perimeter of the portable silo assembly. Safety rail 100 is intended to provide fall protection. Referring to FIG. 4 through FIG. 6, safety rail 100 folds down when the portable silo assembly is in the collapsed transport position, Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, there is a caged ladder 102 for providing access to the top perimeter of the portable silo assembly. Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, caged ladder 102 collapses when the portable silo assembly is in the collapsed transport position. Referring to FIG. 1, top hatches 115 are provided through which material enters each of telescopic silos 110. Referring to FIG. 1, retractable stabilizer columns 101 are provided which telescopically extend to provide resistance against deflection when raising and lowering the portable silo assembly. Referring to FIG. 4, stabilizer columns 101 collapse when telescopic silos 110 are in the collapsed transport position. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, stabilizer legs 112 are provided to stabilize the portable silo assembly when telescopic silos 110 are in the expanded operative position. Stabilizer legs 112 both provide more rigidity to the structure and provide a back up to hydraulic cylinders 104 in the event of hydraulic failure. Each of Stabilizer legs 112 are pivotally mounted at an upper end, as shown at plate 113, of the telescopic silos 110. Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, stabilizer legs 112 fold down against underlying base structure 11 when the portable silo assembly is in the collapsed transport position. To facilitate this movement, stabilizer legs 112 slide in tracks positioned on underlying base structure 111 from a transport position to a support position as the telescopic silos are moved by hydraulic cylinders 104 of the jacking assembly from the collapsed transport position to the expanded operative position. Conversely, stabilizer legs 112 slide in tracks positioned on underlying base structure 111 from a support position to a transport position as the telescopic silos are moved by hydraulic cylinders 104 of the jacking assembly from the expanded operative position to the collapsed transport position. When stabilizer legs 112 are in the support position with telescopic silos 110 in the expanded operative position, stabilizer legs 112 are locked in position. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, lower outriggers 105 are provided that are capable of being extended outwardly from underlying base structure 111. Guy wires 103 may be secured from the top perimeter of the portable silo assembly to remote ends of lower outriggers 105 for further stability when telescopic silos 110 are in the expanded operative position. Referring to FIG. 1, each of telescopic silos 110 has a coned bottom with an underlying internal conveyor 108. Internal conveyor 108 extends and retracts. When telescopic silos 110 are in the expanded operative position, internal conveyor 108 extends to connect with an external conveyor 107. When telescopic silos 110 are in the collapsed transport position, internal conveyor 108 retracts.

Operation

Referring to FIG. 4, the portable silo assembly is transported on a flatbed transport trailer to a remote site. Winches are used to lower the skid which forms underlying base structure 111 from the transport trailer onto the ground. The rigid reinforcement provided by truss system 114 prevents damage to the portable silo assembly during transport and When off-loading from the transport trailer to the ground. Referring to FIG. 3, lower outriggers 105 are extended outwardly from underlying base structure 111. Hydraulic cylinders 104 of the jacking assembly are then used to raise all four telescopic silos 110 in unison as a one unit from the collapsed transport position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the expanded operative position illustrated in FIG. 1. During movement from the collapsed transport position to the expanded operative position, stabilizer columns 101 are provided which telescopically extend to provide resistance against deflection. Stabilizer legs 112 slide in tracks positioned on underlying base structure 111 from a transport position to a support position as telescopic silos 110 are moved by hydraulic cylinders 104 of the jacking assembly from the collapsed transport position to the expanded operative position. Once telescopic silos are in the expanded operative position, stabilizer legs 112 are locked in the support position to provide more rigidity to the structure and provide a back up to hydraulic cylinders 104 in the event of hydraulic failure. Guy wires 103 are secured from the top perimeter of the portable silo assembly to remote ends of lower outriggers 105 for further stability when telescopic silos 110 are in the expanded operative position. Caged ladder 102 extends as telescopic silos 110 of the portable silo assembly move to the expanded operative position. Once in the expanded operative position, safety rail 100 around the top perimeter of the portable silo assembly is raised to provide fall protection. When telescopic silos 110 are in the expanded operative position, internal conveyors 108 are extended and connected with external conveyor 107.

Features:

1. Legal Road transportable Storage Silo (when Collapsed)

2. A large Volume Storage once erected

3. Built on a skid to be winched on and off trailers with winch tractor trucks

4. Silo is designed with 2 main factors enabling it to move off and on the trailers without buckling; engineered skid & structure base, as well as the truss system that ties into the skid creating a rigid, low deflection structure that acts as 1 unit.

5. Takes up less square footage on site due to vertical capability's

6. Due to the large capacity of the Silo, the savings of plus or minus 7 truckloads will take place.

7. Silo is trucked onto site with Winch Tractor

8. Silo is lowered off trailer in Collapsed position to level ground

9. Stabilizers are extended out and the multistage multi silos are jacked up to full storage capacity.

10. Each cylinder has different diameters enabling the cylinders to create a large storage hold capable of holding approx. 1200 tons of sand when fully extended, while also having the ability to be transported with just 1 vehicle.

11. With multiple silos you must have a truss system to tie them all raise in lower together, resisting any binding or buckling.

12. The truss system holding the multiple silos on the skid is raised and lowered by 2 multi stage hydraulics at each end.

13. Hydraulics are operated with a diesel power pack at the end of the silo

14. Each aluminum cylinder has welded rings with rubber seals to catch the next cylinder & to create a leak-free seal

15. Silo product loading done through top hatch by conveyor or pneumatic.

16. Discharge of the product takes place through coned bottom valve dropping onto a conveyor of which is on a track.

In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

The scope of the claims should not be limited by the illustrated embodiments set forth as examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with a purposive construction of the claims in view of the description as a whole. 

What is claimed:
 1. A portable silo assembly, comprising: two or more telescopic silos, each of the telescopic silo being multi-stage structures that are vertically movable from a collapsed transport position to a telescopically expanded operative position; a rigid underlying base structure upon which the two or more telescopic silos are mounted: a jacking assembly for jacking the two or more telescopic silos from the collapsed transport position to the expanded operative position; and a rigidifying truss system providing rigidity between the two or more telescopic silos during transport and as the two or more telescopic silos are jacked from the collapsed transport position to the expanded operative position.
 2. The portable silo assembly of claim 1, wherein the underlying base structure is a skid for facilitating winching the underlying base structure on and off transport trailers.
 3. The portable silo assembly of claim 1, wherein the jacking assembly is comprised of a plurality of multi-stage hydraulic cylinders.
 4. The portable silo assembly of claim 3, wherein there is provided stabilizer legs to stabilize the two or more telescopic silos in the expanded operative position and provide a back up to the multi-stage hydraulic cylinders in the event of hydraulic failure.
 5. The portable silo assembly of claim 4, wherein the stabilizer legs at pivotally mounted at an upper end of the two or more telescopic silos, the stabilizer legs sliding in tracks positioned on the underlying base structure from a transport position to a support position as the two or more telescopic silos are moved by the jacking assembly from the collapsed transport position to the expanded operative position.
 6. The portable silo assembly of claim 1, wherein stabilizer columns telescopically extend to provide resistance against deflection when raising and lowering the portable silo assembly.
 7. The portable silo assembly of claim 1, wherein the underlying base structure has outriggers that extend outwardly from the underlying base structure.
 8. The portable silo assembly of claim 7, wherein guy wires are secured from the top of the two or more telescopic silos to remote ends of the outriggers.
 9. The portable silo assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the two or more telescopic silos has a coned bottom with an underlying conveyor.
 10. The portable silo assembly of claim 8, wherein each underlying conveyor retracts when the two or more telescopic silos are in the collapsed transport position and extends when the two or more telescopic silos are in the expanded operative position. 